By pre-ride do you mean leave an hour or so before the race and ride along the course, or just do the route sometime n advance?
I was wondering where the best place to watch Sage 2 would be. It'll be real difficult to view the race in more than 1 spot unless you drive. I'd really like to see them come across the GG Bridge, go over Devil's Slide, go through Half Moon Bay, up Tunitas and the finish too, but since I'll be biking it I think I'll ride the course from SF to Tunitas and wait for them there on one of the lower steeper pitches.

For Stage 3 I think I'll take BART to Dublin and ride out to Patterson Pass and watch from the top.

If I'm around, I'd like to watch the prologue in Sac, but I'll probably be racing down at Cantua Creek/Pine Flat.

Stage 3 - the view from the top of Patterson Pass will be pretty good. You can't see as far down the wqest side from the top as you can see down the east side, but it's still a pretty good view of some pain and suffering.

Stage 3 - the view from the top of Patterson Pass will be pretty good. You can't see as far down the wqest side from the top as you can see down the east side, but it's still a pretty good view of some pain and suffering.

Yeah, plus there will be windmills in the background and that'll look good on camera so the likelihood of getting on TV is greater!

So am I seeing this right? On stage 2 they'll be riding along Ocean Beach and up Hwy35/Skyline and descend Hwy1 to Pacifica on their way to Half Moon Bay and beyond?

Man, that's my 'hood! Sweet! I'm taking the day off. Atlhough I want to see them pass over the GG Bridge! That'll be a cool picture!! I better remind my wife to take a differnt route to bring our daughter to school that morning! haha!

My buddy, Luis, from TX, will probably be coming out that weekend as well. So maybe we can hook up with some of you guys to ride that weekend!

So am I seeing this right? On stage 2 they'll be riding along Ocean Beach and up Hwy35/Skyline and descend Hwy1 to Pacifica on their way to Half Moon Bay and beyond?

Man, that's my 'hood! Sweet! I'm taking the day off. Atlhough I want to see them pass over the GG Bridge! That'll be a cool picture!! I better remind my wife to take a differnt route to bring our daughter to school that morning! haha!

My buddy, Luis, from TX, will probably be coming out that weekend as well. So maybe we can hook up with some of you guys to ride that weekend!

The other brutha Gary

Our office is closed for President's day that day, so no need to take extra time off work.
Your daughter's school is probably closed that day too.

A Diablo finish would certainly be a nice way to end though, especially with that little kick at the top. It would be really cool to see what kind of times these pro-tour guys put in. The Diablo Challenge wouldn't be the same after something like that.

I understand it's all about the money and the money is in the cities but this race will never be big time until we get a real mountain stage.

The middle of stage 4 looks semi promising (but only tops out @ 4000' around Oakhurst). The last 40 miles down hill into Clovis is kinda silly for the only stage with a little bit of mountains. Still its only about 6000' of climbing.